Croquet-stand



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

H. C. CHESTER.

, GROQUET STAND.

No. 255,596. P88651888 Mar. 28,1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sh eetsSheet 2.,

H. (LCHESTER.

GROQUET STAND; Nb. 255,596.- Patented Mar. 28,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFicE.

HUBBARD C. CHESTER, OF NOANK, CONNECTICUT.

CROQU ET-STAND.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,596, dated March 28, 1882.

Application filed January 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom tt' may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBBARD O. CHESTER, of Noank,in the countyof NewLondon,and in the State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Croquet- Stands; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my stand as arranged for and in use; and Figs. 2, 3, and. 4. are respectively horizontal sections upon lines as a, z z, and z z of Fig. 1.

Letters of like name and ki id refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and convenient means for supporting the mallets and balls used in the game of croquet; and to this end it consists, principally, in acombined croquet-stand and center wicket, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists,further,in a stand for supporting croquet mallets and balls, secured to or upon the upper end of a center wicket, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, finally, in a croquet-stand provided with a series of pockets for the reception of balls arranged horizontally around an axial center, a series of pockets for the reception of the heads of mallets similarly arranged at a point above said hall-pockets, and a series of sockets or recesses adapted to receive audcontain the upper ends of the handles of said mallets, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A and A repre sent two arched rods, which are arranged with their points downward and their curved centers crossed, so as to form the center wicket usually employed in the game of croquet. The rods A are each preferably made in two pieces, and their upper ends connected by means of a collar, B, into which the same are screwed.

Secured within and extending upward from the collar 5 is a rod or standard, C, upon which, near its upper end and at a point immediately above said collar, are two collars, D and E,respectively,into which are secured the ends of a number of rods, F, (preferablyfour,) that from their upper ends nearlyto theirlowerends have an outward and a downward inclination, and from thence to said collar E have a downward and an inward curve.

At a short distance above the collar E a rod, G, extends horizontally around the rods F, preferablyin the form of aright-angled square, and within the same and supported thereby are provided a number of wire pockets, 9, which are semi-spherical, and are each adapted to receive and contain a croquet-ball, H. A second horizontal rod, I, extends around the rods F a short distance above the rod G, and upon the inner side of the same are attached a number of pockets, 1', which correspond to and are each adapted to receive and contain the head of a mallet, K, said mallet being placed with its handle 70 in or near an upright position. Theupperend of each liandlek is held in place by being passed through an eye or socket, l, that is formed by a rod, L, which encircles the rods F near their upper ends, or by resting within a recess formed in or by said wire at the point where said socket is shown, the arrangement being such as to cause said mallets to maintain the positions shown in Fig. 1.

The arrangement of the ball-pockets and the pockets for the mallet-heads upon different planes enables the stand to be made much smaller horizontally than would be practicable if said pockets occupied the same plane, by which means the appearance of the article is materially improved and less space required for storage and during transportation.

When used as a stand merely the lower end of the device may be secured within a base, M; but for use as a center wicket the rods A are each pointed, and at a suitable point provided with a collar, a, that determines the distance to which the same may enter the ground, by which means no special care is necessary in placing said wicket in position.

As constructed the stand affords a convenient, simple, and compact means whereby'croquet balls and mallets "may be safely stored, and, if desired, carried from place to place without injury or liability to displacement.

If desired, the stand may be left in position upon the croquct-ground,in which eventa water-proof covering should be provided to slip over said stand, so as to protect the articles supported thereby from injury by the elements.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and inerits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s- 1. A combined croquet stand and center Wicket, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A stand for supporting croquet wallets and balls, secured to or upon the upper end of a center wicket, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. A croquet-stand provided with a series of pockets for the reception of balls arranged horizontally around an axial center, a series of pockets for the reception of the heads of mallets similarly arranged at a point above said ball-pockets, and a series of sockets or recesses [5 adapted to receive and contain the upper ends of the handles of said mallets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of 20 December, 1881.

HUBBARD O. CHESTER. 

